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May 4, 2015

Immigration Lawsuit Receives Cold Response from Appeals Court

Joe Arpaio, an Arizona Sheriff, who filed a suit against Obama’s immigration policies were met with an icy reception early this week at the federal Court of Appeals. It appears reviving the case will be unlikely.

Arpaio filed the suit late last year, shortly after the Obama administration made the announcement of offering illegal immigrants, whose parents are permanent residents or citizens, amnesty from deportation.

He also argued that he has the right to challenge current immigration policies since the administration won’t allow the deportation of illegal criminals who wind up in his jail.

A judge last December dumped the case, indicating the sheriff didn’t possess any legal standing to take up the challenge since he wasn’t fully harmed by the current immigration policies.

The U.S. Court of Appeals within the District of Columbia Circuit brought up similar concerns on its oral arguments early Monday in Arpaio’s appeal.

The argument concentrates on whether the Sheriff has the right to force a suit, not on legal merits of his claims.